Headline: UNCAPTIONED: Chester Zoo To Let African Beasts Roam In 'Largest Ever' UK Zoo Habitat
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The largest UK zoo habitat ever created is set to open at Chester Zoo - where it will be home to 57 varieties of African beast. The new Heart of Africa zone, spanning more than 17 football pitches (22.5 acres), has been designed to recreate a variety of grassland habitats found across central Africa. For the first time at the zoo, visitors will encounter northern giraffes, Grevy's zebras, roan antelopes and ostrich, all living together side-by-side. Away from the sweeping grasslands, a new indoor habitat, named Hidden Savannah, shines a spotlight on Africa's desert dwellers and less heralded species. These include the African bullfrog, the largest frog species in Africa, dung beetles, red spitting cobra, Ethiopian viper, and critically endangered pancake tortoises. There is also an immersive new habitat where visitors can climb into a Land Rover surrounded by 15,000 locusts. The exhibit will also include a flock of 107 iconic greater flamingos, three species of critically endangered vulture, rare lovebirds, and the Verreaux's eagle owl, the largest found in Africa. The area is also home to a host of other mammal species including meerkats, African wild dogs, aardvarks, Eastern black rhino, yellow mongoose, rock hyrax and dik-dik. Heart of Africa will open to visitors from Saturday 5 April 2025.
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